Xu Youning was prepared to be caught and teased by Mu Sijue. But surprisingly, he didnât kick the door open.
Maybe Mu Sijue wanted to be kind and let her go this time?
It sounded... unimaginable.
Xu Youning surely knew their relationship well. Mu Sijue could do anything to her except for being nice to her.
After taking a shower, Xu Youning walked out of the bathroom filled with confusion. She saw Mu Sijue standing by a window of the room and the cigarette between his fingers quietly spread white smoke.
At the first look, her figure... seemed to be carrying the weight of a mountain.
Xu Youning felt something was wrong. She walked over and reached out her hand. But before she could pat Mu Sijueâs shoulder, he suddenly turned around to look at her.
After a short eye contact, Mu Sijue coldly ordered, âPack your things. Weâll return to City G in half an hour.â
Xu Youning stared at Mu Sijue. If she hadnât seen it wrongly, there was a sign of a troubled emotion in his eyes the moment he turned around.
She asked probingly, âIs there anything wrong?â
Mu Sijue evaded Xu Youningâs eyes. âNo.â Then, he walked directly to the bathroom.
That was the first time that Mu Sijue evaded a question, ever.
But this question could be answered with only a few words.
Xu Youning looked at Mu Sijueâs figure and suddenly felt strange from the bottom of her heart.
It was neither a sharp pain nor a bitter sorrow. It was like a stronger power which severely peeled something important from her heart.
All of a sudden, Xu Youning felt empty.
Many years later, when Xu Youning recalled the feeling at the moment, she finally believed that one could have a premonition when something bad happened.
Xu Youning didnât feel any better when she got on the plane.
âMr. Mu, Miss Xu, good morning.â The airline stewardess placed two beverages before them. âWeâll arrive in City G in three hours. Enjoy your flight.â
Xu Youning blankly took up the drink and her hand suddenly trembled. The glass fell and shattered on the ground. The juice was spilled all over.
The reaction from the stewardess was quick. She swiftly passed a tissue to Xu Youning and asked after clearing the glass residue on the ground, âMiss Xu, do you need any help?â
Xu Youning stopped for quite a while and then covered her heart with her hand subconsciously.
She didnât know what happened to herself, either. She felt empty inside, as if she had lost her favorite toy when she was little. A blunt pain covered her heart, as if a hammer were hanging there, striking her every once in a while. It couldnât kill her but it made her anxious.
She needed help.
But, there seemed to be no one in the world who could help her.
âIâm fine.â Even Xu Youningâs voice sounded blank, âSorry to have bothered you.â
âThatâs all right. As long as youâre not hurt.â The stewardess quickly cleaned the aftermath and then left.
Xu Youning and Mu Sijue were the only ones left in the spacious passenger compartment.
âXu Youning,â Mu Sijue suddenly called her name.
It took her a moment to answer, âUm?â
â...Under what circumstances would you lose the desire to live?â Mu Sijue asked as if he was coming up with a normal question. He looked calm, while he spoke with a relaxed tone. That calmness would make others ignore the darkness in his eyes.
âDo you want me to die by asking this question?â Xu Youning smiled. âThen you may be disappointed. I hold my life quite dearly. I will live through any circumstances. Even if I encounter a huge pain, I will live for my grandma.â
Mu Sijue frowned slightly, âIf...â
âThere is no if,â Xu Youning interrupted Mu Sijue quickly, âSo, forget it. You canât make me die.â
Mu Sijue leaned over and looked out the window. His eyes were deep as the sea. âItâd better be like what you said.â
Three hours later, the plane landed at The International Airport of G City. Ah Guang drove over and waited by the exit of the airport.
Seeing Mu Sijue and Xu Youning coming out together, Ah Guang wanted to laugh, but he couldnât. He just passed the car key to Xu Youning and said, âSister Youning, I drove your car here for you.â
âThanks.â Xu Youning took over the car key and noticed something wrong with Ah Guangâs expression. So she asked confusedly, âWhy do you look like this? Iâm back. Youâre not happy?â
âNo, Iâm so happy... that I donât know how to face you.â Ah Guang suddenly rushed over to hug Xu Youning. He put so much effort into the hug, as if he were trying to make her stay. âSister Youning, welcome back.â
Xu Youning was confused by Ah Guangâs warmth. It took her quite a while to realize what he was doing and politely hugged him back. â...Iâve only been gone for a few days. Donât you think youâre exaggerating?â
Ah Guang shamefully nodded with a smile. Then he released Xu Youning and put up a bright smile for her.
Xu Youning took a look at the watch and asked Mu Sijue, âSeventh Brother, can I go back home first? I want to see my grandma. Iâll handle the club and bar matters tomorrow.â
â...â After a short while of hesitation, Mu Sijue agreed. âUm.â
Xu Youning didnât find anything abnormal from Mu Sijueâs hesitation. She happily unlocked the car. When she was about to get inside, Mu Sijue said,
âXu Youning.â
âUm?â She turned around and looked at him.
Mu Sijue stared at her for a while. Then he slowly said, âGoodbye.â
That was the first time Mu Sijue had said goodbye to her. But Xu Youning wanted to go back so badly that she didnât think about the further meaning of that word. She just waved her hand to Mu Sijue. âSee you tomorrow.â
Then she got in the driverâs seat and drove away.
In less than ten seconds, Xu Youningâs car disappeared from the sights of Mu Sijue and Ah Guang.
Without any sign, as a man, Ah Guangâs eyes suddenly turned red.
He turned around and kicked on the tire. Then he lost control; he crawled inside the car and started to cry.
Mu Sijue gave Ah Guang two minutes.
Two minutes later, Mu Sijue ordered expressionlessly, âTake me to the club.â
Ah Guang dried his tears and stared at Mu Sijue with red eyes. âWhy did you do that?â
This was the first time he talked to Mu Sijue in a interrogating tone, just for Xu Youningâs sake.
âI have my reasons.â Mu Sijue didnât answer. âYou donât need to know.â
âThen why did you hide her real identity from me?â Ah Guang struck the car again, with more helplessness than anger.
âBecause you would have let the cat out of the bag,â Mu Sijue said coldly, âI had to use Xu Youning to deliver fake news to Kang Ruicheng. If you had known she was the spy, could you make sure that you wouldnât let her find out?â
â...â
â...â
âSeventh Brother,â Ah Guang suddenly calmed down and looked at Mu Sijue, who looked as if nothing was wrong. He asked blankly, âDid you ever...â
Mu Sijue knew what Ah Guang was about to ask so he interrupted him, âGet in the car!â
âMu Sijue!â Ah Guang was annoyed. He wanted an answer anyway.
Mu Sijueâs eyes turned cold. âXu Youning is the spy Kang Ruicheng sent here! What she said to you and what she did for you were to make you believe in her. On this point, she succeeded. Now you know Xu Youningâs real identity, you shouldnât believe her anymore and do what you ought to do! Besides, this is the last time I tell you sheâs not as she seems in your eyes! She doesnât deserve your pity or your sympathy. Everything today was what she asked for! Forget about your Sister Youning. Keep in mind that sheâs Kang Ruichengâs spy!â
â...â Ah Guang stopped there. He even forgot about the sadness.
He had followed Mu Sijue for many years and knew Mu Sijue seldom spoke much. This was the first time he heard Mu Sijue say so many words at a time.
Besides, Mu Sijue obviously didnât say those words to Ah Guang.
Just then, he actually wanted to ask Mu Sijue if he had ever liked Xu Youning. Now he knew the answerâ
Mu Sijue didnât like Xu Youning.
He just, loved Xu Youning.
Ah Guang suddenly felt less sad, because he knew there was someone sadder than him.
On the way back to the club, Ah Guang kept silent. Mu Sijue sat on the back seat and didnât use the time in the car to deal with the business, which was rare for him. He just stared at the scenery outside the window which rapidly paced backwards.
He knew that day would come.
But he didnât foresee that Kang Ruicheng would do something in between, making this day come earlier than expected.
Both he and Xu Youning could finally stop acting.
By then, Xu Youningâs car had just arrived at the gate of her house.
She happily got out of the car and wanted to give her grandma a surprise.
But after she got in, she found no one at home. She searched every corner of the house but still didnât find her grandma.
She had no choice but to call out loudly, âGrandma? Auntie Sun?â
â...â There was no response.
âAuntie Sun? Grandma?â
â...â There was still no response.
It was quite different from what Xu Youning had expected. She blankly stood in the yard and was overtaken by panic. Her mind sank quickly and she desperately asked, âGrandma!â
â...â
âYouning?â
Finally, another voice came from the door. Xu Youning became happy and turned around but only found Auntie Sun there.
Auntie Sunâs eyes turned red the minute she saw her. âYouning, youâre finally back.â
âWhere is my grandma?â Xu Youning hastily asked, âAuntie Sun, where is my grandma?â
âYour grandma...â Auntie Sun couldnât control herself and tears quickly poured from her eyes. âYouning, your grandma left us yesterday.â
âLeft?â
The word was too simple. At the moment, Xu Youning suddenly couldnât recognize the word or its meaning.
She caught Auntie Sunâs hand. âWhere has my grandma gone? Sheâs so weak. How could you let her go outside? Forget it, just tell me where she is. I will take her back.â
âYouning, donât be like this...â Auntie Sun said in a broken voice, âYour grandma passed away.â
Xu Youning had been avoiding this message, this fact. But she failed. Auntie Sun just directly told her that her grandma had passed away.
She felt as if she had been knocked down by something. Then, a strong coldness came from the top of her head, going through her back and finally to her feet.
She remembered the dream which had bothered her for the whole day yesterday. So it wasnât just a nightmare. It was real. Her grandma really left her.
Tears fell down from Xu Youningâs eyes, but she didnât cry out loud.
She begged Auntie Sun while shivering, âAuntie Sun, please donât joke with me. I beg you, please tell me where my grandma is.â
Granny Xu was the only one in the world who was blood related to her. Auntie Sun knew how sad she was, but she had to face reality.
Auntie Sun made up her mind and told Xu Youning the whole thing that happened the day before...